Comic Book Preview: 2/13/13

For those of you not in the know, New England got smacked with a cubic fuckton of snow over the weekend. Despite hazardous conditions, complete lack of electrical power, zero running water and sleepless nights in sub-zero temperatures, Dave and Brendan both toughed things out and now present you with the week’s comics preview. Because, god damn it, you’re worth it.

Brendan’s Cover of the Week

Star Wars #2

Alex Ross

Brendan: Well look at Mr. Ross bringing the A game! While this cover does have a few faults (it’s kinda busy and Lea is rocking a bit of the ol’ Giada face) the composition and colors are gorgeous. Those spaceships look amazing and there is a great sense of wonder embodied here. If I were to use a single word to describe this cover, it would be epic.

Dave: Wow, what a cover. This could serve as a 90 inch movie poster as every inch is stuffed with razzle, dazzle and epic awesomeness. I particularly like the competing lights show between the red laser and sunrise.

Dave’s Cover of the Week

Fatale #12

Sean Phillips

Dave: Last I checked being burned alive is one of the worst ways to die. You can see it all over this girl’s face. The red in the windows imbues everything with a horrid sense of dread and don’t even get me started on the monotone expression on these monks’ faces.

Brendan: I love the use of colors and lighting here. The blistering hot reds from the sticks, as well as the bottom of her dress, give off an amazing heat. The red windows are a fantastic touch and that scream is priceless.

Brendan’s Honorable Mentions

Change #3

Morgan Jeske

Brendan: This cover is both simple and vivid, and that is why it’s so amazing. I enjoy it thoroughly.

Dave: The hair is quite dazzling. This would be a sweet tag that would only improve the walls of any city.

Powers Bureau #1 (Variant Cover)

David Mack

Brendan: I mean, it’s Mack so it’s a win, right? Honestly I have to say while this cover isn’t necessarily over-the-top amazing, the artistic quality level is leaps and bounds over the competing covers.

Dave: Legally I have to notify readers that Mack put a 300 foot restraining order on Brendan. Luckily we can both praise this wonderful artist every time he tinkles our twinkle. Loooove this! My restraining order is in the mail…but I think that lawyer was totally toting my goats.

Dave’s Honorable Mentions

Batman #17

Greg Capullo

Dave: What gets me with this cover is the blood on the cape and ground. It’s a rather simple cover—too simple really—but it exhibits what this storyline has been all about from the beginning: The love affair between Joker and Batman. Creepy.

Brendan: This cover is perfection. I love the imagery of an ecstatic Joker waltzing with his vanquished foe and it’s great to see Mr. J in his classic tux. Like Dave said, this perfectly summarizes the current Batman storyline and I cannot wait to see more.

Cable and the X-Force #4

Simone Bianchi

Dave: Ohhhh, pretty lights! The guns look sick, like something out of the Borderlands video game. Domino’s pose is quite sexy and it takes a second, but once you notice the light is coming out of what seems to be a bomb…how cool is that? Her luck powers most likely got her covered and it’s dramatic as hell.

Brendan: The spotlights are pretty sweet but I’m not crazy about Domino’s pose. I’m pretty Switzerland when it comes to this cover. For every admirable quality I can find an equally bland detail. I’m happy Dave likes it, though. I just want him to be happy.

WTF? Category

Where we don’t understand, are insulted by or would rather stab our eyes with acid pops than look at these covers for various reasons.

America’s Got Powers #5 (of 6)

Bryan Hitch

Dave: Here’s an idea, cram as many characters into a cover as you can so that the onlooker thinks, “Oh hey why are so many folks fighting in that scene I gotta buy it heeyuck!” Honestly…this is a mess. It tells me nothing and the hero, in the blue shirt and pants, looks like a buffoon. Where are you looking? You’re about to get punched!

Brendan: I think the largest problem this cover faces is that our hero is lost in the hustle. There is so much action going down that you are interested in every other aspect more than you’re interested in the main dude. It’s a problem, yo.

Ame-Comi Girls: Featuring Supergirl #5

Emanuela Lupacchino

Dave: I thought it was cold in space? I guess if you’re super you don’t ever get warm or cold…how sad. Wouldn’t that mean you were always numb? I also dislike how stupidly happy she looks. Dude, you’re flying in the middle of nowhere, plus there’s rubble all which way. Nothing to be happy about! That said Lupacchino did a great job.

Brendan: Let us ignore the scantily clad babe floating about carelessly in the empty vacuum of space and let us instead look at the amazing cosmos that has been presented to us. The way the reds, greens and blue contrast and blend are gorgeous. Lil’ miss Supes ain’t looking too shabby either.

Avengers Arena #4

Bobby Rubio

Brendan: Alright, I will admit that my gripe mostly comes from a different preference in style. I am not digging the way the characters are drawn here. I don’t really see as much action as I see oddly skewed proportions. I will say that I love the small details in the woodland that surrounds our characters. Those are some happy little trees!

Dave: I don’t mind the style mainly because there’s a lot of tightly wound energy in the movement. I see where Brendan is coming from though, but its so damn striking. Literally and figuratively!

Comics Being Released This Week

This is a cleaned up list via ComicList.com. Comic availability subject to change.